Recommended Reads...

For the past couple of days, I’ve been reading and studying about China, its people and their experiences during the Cultural Revolution. The interest began when I read a book I grabbed for sale at Magrudy’s called “Wild Swans, Three daughters of China” by Jung Chang. The book tells of a harrowing experience of the author during Mao Zedong’s era and how she and her remaining family members survived the trauma and torments of their generation.

Before I read the book, I was pretty positive that I would not cry over it believing that I was not hypersensitive to cry about someone I don’t know of (unless the story talks about a pet which I admit I am more susceptible to tears^^). However, in the middle of the story, at the chapter where her parents were branded and condemned as capitalist-roaders/ counter-revolutionaries and torture were put into practice, my soft side for people gave in and tears began to flow endlessly.

Going back to my early college years, I used to dream of being a Chinese. To have a fair and smooth skin, straight black hair and chinkee little eyes. Then I remembered that dreaming of it meant dreaming that my parents were also Chinese. Suddenly, I started thanking God. Oh, how lucky I was to be born Filipino, my parents didn’t have to go through such a difficult and traumatic life.

Now, I am halfway through Chinese Lives, an oral history of contemporary China by Zhang Xinxin and Sang Ye which I also got on sale at a bookstore somewhere in Starmall, Las Pinas. (I’m actually a cheapster who frequents herself in booksale and other second-hand bookstores looking for hidden treasures^^). Contrary to Wild Swans which is a sole personal account of the author, this book is a compilation of stories by 60+ individuals but who just like Ms. Chang told their sufferings and agony in old-age China.

I’m glad I’m becoming more and more engrossed and interested in learning and studying Asia (particularly China & Korea’s History). I’m even thinking of getting membership at the local Culture & Heritage library so I can borrow and read as much books as I want.

But with all those interesting volumes available for check out, I wonder what to read next?